Steve Smith Sr. Wrote the Most Legendary Retirement Letter Ever

After a 16-year NFL career in which he racked up 14,731 receiving yards and 81 touchdowns, Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is finally tossing his cleats over the proverbial telephone wire. He finishes his pro career with the seventh most receiving yards in NFL history. He gained more than 1,000 yards in a season eight times, including four straight seasons from 2005 to 2008.

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After a 16-year NFL career in which he racked up 14,731 receiving yards and 81 touchdowns, Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith is finally tossing his cleats over the proverbial telephone wire. He finishes his pro career with the seventh most receiving yards in NFL history. He gained more than 1,000 yards in a season eight times, including four straight seasons from 2005 to 2008.

Despite standing just 5-foot-9, Smith made cornerbacks look silly with his strength and precise routes. He was also a brilliant trash-talker, using his bravado to get inside defenders' heads and make every big catch feel like an event. It's only right, then, that his retirement letter to the commissioner was written in much the same fashion.

Jordan Zirm
- Jordan Zirm is an Associate Content Director for STACK. After earning his BS in Journalism from the University of Missouri, he spent time writing for "Cleveland Scene Magazine" and Complex Media before joining STACK.
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